Electrical connector



Dec. 21, 1948. P. J. BACH ETAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed April so. 1945IIIIIIIIJIIIIIIII/ I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII l1 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 St-Louis, Mo.,. assignors 'to .Mines Equipment Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of MIS- ApplicationAprilfiO, 1945; Serial N0.'59'1,164

I 10 Claims.

-1 This invention relates to improvements in couplings or connectors,particularly --electrical connectors of the quick detachable,irictionagrip plug-and-socket type. The objects of the inventionare todevise a'strong, simple, economical and efficient electricallyconductiveconnectorof the above type that will provide increasedfriction between the plug 'and: socket members at theirsurface ofcontact and thus-prevent separation or-loss of surface contact of saidmembers under service conditions and that will Provide for cleaning thecontact surface of the socket member by theplug member during theengagement and disengagement thereof. The invention consists in a hollowcy-l-indrioal plug member with oblique circumferentially-spaced slitstherein and a member having a cylindrical socket of smaller diameterthan the slitportion of said plug member, whereby endwise insertion ofsaid plug member in saidsocket member will compress the slit portion andcause it to bear resiliently against the wall of saidsocket. The

invention also consists :inproviding the slit hollow cylindrical plugmember with a central reinforcing pinor core and in providing an-annularspace between said plug and core adaptedto permit the slitportion tospring radially inwardlywhen said plug is forced into-said socket.Thei-nvention also consists in the electrical connector and in the partsand combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

'.In the accompanying drawing, which for-ms part of this specificationand wherein likesymbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an electrical connector embodyingmy invention,

'Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-4 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 isa side elevational View of the plug member of the connector,

"Fig. 5 is a central long-itudinalsectional view of the socket member ofthe connector,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central.longitudinaksection on the line 6-6 inFig. 4,

'Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view onthe line 1-1 in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 isan enlarged fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view on the line88.in,Fig.I .1.

In the accompanying drawing, our invention is shown embodied in-anelectrical connector of the friction grip, axially engageable -anddisenhaving.-a cylindrical ax ial; :socket .2 opening through one endthereof and-an electrically.conductive inemberfl having a reducedhollowscylindrical plug tat-one end thereof :adapted for endwiseinsertion in and removal fromusaidfcylindiiical socket. Locatedwithinand extending: from end to end of 'thetubular plug portiond'of'the member 3 is a centralcore or pin 5'thatx'ispressfitted in orotherwise rigidly secured to; said :memher at the inner end zof saidhollow plug portion. The pin 5 is of smaller diameterthan thejinsidediameter of the hollow plug-4 so as to provide an annular clearance-space'-6 between saidlz zpin and plug.

.In the engagedposition of the plug andsocket members"! and -3., theannular :shoulder 1 formed by the reduced-tubular plug portion 4 0f themember "3 abutsagainst the adjacent plug receiving end of the member I.At'their remote ends, each of the plug and Socket members l and 3 hasintersecting axial and diametr-al holes (18 therein adapted to receivethe wires zorwcabl'es not shown) that are to be electrically connectedby said members.

The tubular or' hollow cylindricalplug portion 4 of the member 3 has endportions 9 of "slightly portion and terminate in -thesmallertdiameterend portions 9 thereof. These 'circumferential ly spaced oblique orhelicalslits I I dividethe large diameter intermediateporti'on ill ofthe hollow plug 4'into a series of relativelythick-circumferentiallyspaced obliquely or, helicall'y 'dispose'dlradially. resilient sections42. i'Ihus, when the hollow cylindricali-plug portion i 10f .the phIgmember -3 is forced into: the cylindricalfsocket' -t of the socketmember I, the circumterenti-ally spaced obliquely orhelically.disposedssections I2 ofthe larger diameter intermediateportioni fl of said plug portion are forced radially "inwardly and thusbear resiliently against' the wall-of said cylindrical socket with avpressurev suflicient to frictionally resist endwise 'separationzlo'fsa-id members. The-annular clearance space fi 'ba tween the tubular plugportion-' 4 of theplug member-3' and the centralupin or core S- thereinpermits the slit large diameter intermediate portion Hl of said tubulartplug portion to spring radially, inwardly; 1 and s-ai'd 1 pinalso-1prewer'its 3 said tubular plug portion from being crushed or bent.The desired amount of friction between the plug and socket may beobtained by varying the diameter of the intermediate portion in, thelength and width of the helical or oblique sections l2 thereof and thewidth of the annular clearance space 6 between the reinforcing orsupporting pin and the hollow plug 4. The small diameter portion 9 atthe entering end of the plug 4 serves as a pilot for guiding said pluginto the socket 2; and the oblique or helical slits Ii provide cuttingedges that function after the manner of a reamer to keep the wall of thecylindrical socket 2 bright and clean and electr diameter cylindricalsocket to bear resiliently throughoutits entire length against the wallthereof and thus frictionally resist endwise separation of said members.

' 2. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving a straight cylindrical portion of larger diameter than saidcylindrical socket, said straight cylindrical'portion of saidcylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slitstherein extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis thereof, wherebysaid straight cylindrical portion is adapted when compressed in thesmaller diameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughout itsentire length against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resistendwise separation of said members.

3. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving a straight cylindrical portion of larger diameter than saidcylindrical socket, said straight cylindrical portion of saidcylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentially spacedlongitudinal slits therein, whereby said straight cylindrical portion isadapted when compressed in the smaller diameter cylindrical socket tobear resiliently throughout its entire length against the wall thereofand thus frictionally resist endwise separation of said members, saidsecond mentioned member having a cylindrical core rigid therewith thatis disposed within and spaced from the hollow cylindrical plug thereof.

4. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving a straight cylindrical portion of larger diameter than saidcylindrical socket, said straight cylindrical portion of saidcylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slitstherein extending at oblique angles to the longitudinal axis thereof,whereby said straight cylindrical portion is adapted when compressed inthe smaller diameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughoutits entire length against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resistendwise separation of said members, said second mentioned member havinga cylindrical core rigid therewith that is disposed within and spacedfromthe hollow cylindrical plug thereof.

5. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having an integral hollow cylindrical plug adapted forendwise insertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindricalplug having a straight cylindrical portion of larger diameter than saidcylindrical socket, said straight cylindrical portion of saidcylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slitstherein extendin at oblique angles to the longitudinal axis thereof,whereby said straight cylindrical portion is adapted when compressed inthe smaller diameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughoutits entire length against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resistendwise separation of said members, and a cylindrical pin disposed insaid hollow cylindrical plug axially thereof and spaced sertion in saidcylindrical socket, the socket entering end portion of said hollowcylindrical plug being of smaller outside diameter than said cylindricalsocket and having a relatively thin wall and the portion of said hollowcylindrical plug adjacent to said entering end portion being of largeroutside diameter than said cylindrical socket and having a relativelythick wall, said large diameter portion of said cylindrical plug havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced slits therein extending atoblique angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby said largediameter portion is adapted when compressed in the smaller diametercylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughout its entire lengthagainst the wall thereof and thus frictionally resist endwise separationof said members.

'7. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, the socket enterin end portion ofsaid hollow cylindrical plug being of smaller outside diameter than saidcylindrical socket and having a relatively thin wall, and the portion ofsaid hollow cylindrical plug adjacent to said entering end portion beingof larger outside diameter than said cylindrical socket and having a,relatively thick wall, said large diameter portion of said cylindricalplug having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slits thereinextending at-oblique angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, wherebysaid large diameter portion'is adapted when compressed in the smallerdiameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughout its entirelength against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resist endwiseseparation of said members, and a cylindrical pin press-fitted in saidsecond mentioned member and disposed in said hollow cylindrical pluaxially thereof and spaced therefrom.

8. Aconnector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having. a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving thin wall end portions of smaller outside diameter than saidcylindrical socket and a thick wall intermediate portion of largerdiameter than said cylindrical socket, said large diameter intermediateportion of said cylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced longitudinal slits therein extending into said small diameter endportions thereof, whereby said large diameter portion is adapted whencompressed in the smaller diameter cylindrical socket to bearresiliently throughout its entire length against the wall thereof andthus frictionally resist endwise separation of said members.

9. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member having a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving thin Wall end portions of smaller outside diameter than saidcylindrical socket and a thick wall intermediate portion of largerdiameter than said cylindrical socket, said large diameter intermediateportion of said cylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced longitudinal slits therein extending at oblique angles to thelongitudinal axis thereof and into said small diameter end portions,whereby said large diameter portion is adapted when compressed in thesmaller diameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughout itsentire length against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resistendwise separation of said members.

10. A connector comprising a member having a cylindrical socket thereinand a member havin a hollow cylindrical plug adapted for endwiseinsertion in said cylindrical socket, said hollow cylindrical plughaving thin wall end portions of smaller outside diameter than saidcylindrical socket and a thick wall intermediate portion of largerdiameter than said cylindrical socket, said large diameter intermediateportion of said cylindrical plug having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced longitudinal slits therein extending at oblique angles to thelongitudinal axis thereof and into said small diameter end portions,whereby said large diameter portion is adapted when compressed in thesmaller diameter cylindrical socket to bear resiliently throughout itsentire length against the wall thereof and thus frictionally resistendwise separation of said members, and a pin rigid with said secondmentioned member and disposed in said hollow cylindrical plug axiallythereof, said pin being of smaller diameter than the inside diameter ofsaid hollow plug to provide an annular clearance space between said pinand plug.

PETER J. BACH. JAMES H. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,345,750 Hohwart Apr. 4, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 763,114 France Feb. 5, 1934 417,148Great Britain Sept. 28, 1934

